A computer electronics graduate, who was arrested as he took photographs of young girls' legs at a St Patrick's Day parade, may go to jail if the results of a psychotherapy treatment programme are not favourable, a Circuit Court judge has warned.
Patrick Kavanagh (50), Ballyneety, Co Limerick, was arrested on March 16th, 2003, as he took photographs of the legs of young majorettes in short skirts at the International Marching Band Parade in Limerick city.
He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of possession of child pornography between 1998 and 2003.
Currently undergoing treatment at the Granada Institute in Dublin, Kavanagh is charged with the possession of more than 1,300 images of child pornography as well as the production of pornographic images and their distribution via the internet.
Judge Carroll Moran described the case as one of the "most serious cases in relation to child pornography".
However, the judge added that society would be better off if Kavanagh was allowed to continue his treatment.
He adjourned the case until November 28th but warned that Kavanagh could be sent to jail if the results of the programme were "not good".